Seal



C. C. EDGAR Feb. 10, 1953 SEAL Filed May 25, 1949 Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE SEAL Charles C. Edgar, Lawrence, Kans.

Application May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,207

2 Claims. (Cl. 292--315) This invention relates to seals designed primarily for use in sealing freight cars or the like, the important object of the invention being to provide a seal of the destructible type, which is constructed of frangible material and which can only be removed from its sealing position, by breaking or destroying the seal to such a degree as to indicate when the seal has been tampered with in an effort to open the door or closure sealed by the device, by unauthorized persons.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a seal that is so constructed that it may be applied with comparative ease, and removed only by destroying the seal.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seal constructed in accordance with the invention prior to the interlocking of the ends of the seal.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of one end of the seal which has been bent to provide the keeper end of the seal.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational View thereof.

Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating the enlargements formed on the tongue section of the seal.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the seal in its locked or sealing condition.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the blank prior to bending the seal into shape.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the seal comprises a body portion constructed of a strip of flexible frangible material, one end of the body portion being cut away providing the neck 6 and head 1, the head being so constructed that shoulders 8 are provided at the outer end of the neck 6. At the opposite end of the neck the width of the neck is appreciably reduced so that a weakened portion 8' is provided to cause the neck to break should an attempt be made to bend the head 'I forward to open the seal.

The opposite end of the body portion is formed with a cut out portion 9 extending inwardly from one edge thereof, and an elongated opening l0 elongated longitudinally of the body portion disposed directly opposite to the cut out portion 9. Openings II are formed in the body portion and are disposed in a line transversely thereof, the

material between the provide a weakened section of sufficient strength to allow the end 'l2 of the body portion to be bent rearwardly over the end of the body portion, as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, but prevent the bending of the end 12 in the opposite direction, without breaking.

A second elongated opening 13 is provided and the body portion is slit at [4, the slit extending from one edge of the body portion, terminating at the elongated opening l3, providing a section l5 that is scored along the line |6 so that it may be bent rearwardly, but cannot be bent to its initial position, without breaking. The scoring line IB extends across the body portion at an oblique angle with respect to the side edges of the body portion or strip so that when the end 12 is bent along the line IS, the end IZ will lie in a position at right angles with respect to the body portion, as shown by the drawings. When the end I2 is folded over the body portion as shown, a portion of the opening I 3 aligns with a portion of the opening IO, that provides an opening of a length to accommodate the head l, which is inserted in the openings and then bent rearwardly thereover to lock the ends of the body portion or seal together.

Enlargements indicated by the numeral l'I are formed on opposite sides of the body portion adjacent to the head, and provide stops to limit the movement of one end of the body portion through the openings at the opposite end thereof. These enlargements also afford means for gripping the end of the body portion to insert the head in the elongated openings, when securing the ends of the seal together.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the .construction shown and described, I have provided a seal which when positioned to seal a car or similar device, can only be removed by destroying the seal, making it impossible to remove or disconnect the ends of the seal and rebending the seal, without breaking the seal to render it inoperative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a car seal, an elongated body formed of a, strip of flexible frangible material, a head formed at one end of the body with a contracted neck portion, the opposite end of the body providing a Wide keeper section having spaced openings elongated longitudinally of the body in longitudinal alignment, said keeper section having a line of openings extending transversely thereof presenting a weakened portion between the adopenings being scored tov jacent ends of said elongated openings, on which one end of the keeper-section is folded inwardly over-lying the weakened portion of the keeper section, said keeper section having a scored obliquely disposed line formed in the surface thereof, intersecting one of said elongated openings, on which said keeper section is bent, said openings registering providing a keeper opening in which said head is positioned, securing the ends of the seal together.

2. A car seal comprising an elongated body formed of a strip of flexible frangible material, a head formed at one end of the body with a contracted neck portion, the opposite end of the body providing a keeper section, said keeper section having a pair of openings elongated longitudinally of the body in longitudinal alignment with each other, the adjacent ends of said openings being spaced substantial distance apart, said body having openings disposed in a line transversely thereof between the adjacent ends of the elongated openings providing a weakened section, said body also having a scored line extend- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 233,052 Weiss Oct. 5, 1880 241,399 Minor May 10, 1881 418,583 Moore Dec. 31, 1889 1,064,463 Edgar June 10, 1913 1,155,585 Larson Oct. 5, 1915 1,997,169 Edgar Apr. 9, 1935 

